Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park located in the north eastern region of Uganda in Kabong district bordering countries Kenya and Sudan. The park was gazette in 1962 and covers an estimated area of 1442 square kilometers. 86 mammals and 475 birds call it home. The park also hosts the Narus and Kidepo valley from where the Narus river flows. The park neighbored by the intriguing Karamojong and Ik communities which can be accessed through the cultural encounters.
Activities at the park
Game drives
Experience an amazing game drive in the park at luxury since the park offers morning, evening and night game drives which you can enjoy in the comfort of a 4WD safari vehicle. The morning game drive start as early as 6:30 am to increase your chances of sighting an array of wildlife at their most active such as elephants, giraffes, oribi, Uganda kobs, reedbucks among others grazing openly in the savannah plains, predators such as lions, leopards, side striped jackals as you listen to the melodious sounds of twitting birds.
Afternoon game drives start at 2:00pm which will take you to the Narus valley that hosts the park’s main and permanent water source for a chance to find a large concentration of wildlife as they come to quench their thirst. Then the night game drive after dinner at 7:00pm in the company of an armed park guide and a tour guide that will help you identify the nocturnal animals using spotlight torches.
Nature walks
This activity offers you the amazing thrill of venturing through the park on foot guided by a park ranger. You will pass-through well-maintained trails in the park in the areas of Narus valley, Namamukweny valley, Kidepo plains leading you to the Morungole mountains home to the Irk community. You will encounter animals such as waterbucks, cheaters, elands, white eared Kob, zebras, warthogs, giraffes and other numerous bird species.
Birding
Hosting close to 475 bird species such as savannah birds, migratory birds and those that are endemic to the park, Kidepo valley is a birder’s haven. You can enjoy a birding experience on either game drives or nature walks either way expect to see a variety of birds such as the long tailed night jar, rufous crowned roller, purple heron, scarlet crested sunbird, greater kestrel, African swallow tailed kite, black breasted barbet, sand grouse, pygmy falcon, Abyssinian ground hornbill and so much more.
Cultural encounters
This activity gives you the opportunity to visit the indigenous communities of the Karamojong and Irk of Morungole mountain. Learn more about their culture, history, witness their lifestyle, visit their houses called manyattas constructed from locally sourced grass and finished with mud, be entertained by their traditional dances among others.
Hiking
Explore the park on foot taking in fresh cool breeze as you stroll in the savannah vegetation. Walk along the Namamukweny valley, Lorrei mountains and Narus valley where you will spot a variety of animals like zebras, giraffes, warthogs, cheetah, lions. You will also hike to the Morungole mountains to get great views of the landscape.
Best time to visit
Although the park visited throughout the year, the recommended time is during the dry season in the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February. These months’ favor game viewing as the vegetation is thin enabling you to have clear views of the wildlife in the park and most animals tend to concentrate at the Narus river for a sip of water where you can view many at once.